Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-10-15
TATTOOING ART.
INDELIBLE DECORATION OF THE
HUMAN BODY.
The Art in Japan-A Correspondent
INDUCES in the Craze, and De-
scribes Method, Etc.
IREcoRD-USIoS Correspondence
YoKoHoMA, August so, 1887

lREcoRp-UNIoS Correspondence
1oKoHoMA, August so, 1887.
Since was little fellow at school. and
pricked writing fluid into to my hand in
stars and bars and wonderful geometrical
figures, have had a lasting desire to be
tattooed by some one who could do the
work well. The tattooed man in the
circus always took precedence in my
estimation, even of the elephant, while the
rough rings and clasped hands on the arms
of sailor friends seemed the best accom-
plishment of art. Yet with the many
chances thrown in my way to obtain this
desired decoration, made up nv mind
years ago to wait until fortune brought
me to Japan where l knew that the finest
work Of the kind was done. Once on the
Mediterranean, whose sailors are famed for
tattooing, went so far as to have the de-
sign laid on but backed out at the last
moment. Fortune has repaid me for my
long waiting, for now instead of the
heavy designs seen SO commonly,
L have as airy and pretty picture as
could be drawn with a pen. In Japan
this delicate art of
DECORATING THE HUMAN BODY
With colors has been carried to its highest
point, and until in 1868, when for some
unaccountable reason tattooing was pro-
hibited by the remodeled Government, the
tattooer was as well known and lionized as
is the famous porcelain painter or water
color artist of to-day. Not content with a
single mark, the aspiring Japanese youth
would have himself covered with the most
elaborate and intricate designs l have
seen men completely covered in this most
perfect-fitting Of costumes from neck to
ankles and wrists. A pretty face, in the
popular, conventionalized style of native
art, might be upon the breast, the robes of
the figure would curve about and the long
sleeves would twist into graceful folds;
snakes and dragons would wind themselves
around the limbs, while birds, butterflies,
bamboo branches and armed warriors found
place upon the trunk. Red and blue or
black are the usual colors, but owing to
the dark skin of the coolie they show less
distinctly than on the skin of European.
An American gentleman, son of the most
popular of our poets, has been tattooed
probably in the highest style of the art
and has the best examples of this work
done by famous Ozaka man, to be seen.
A square inch day was the limit of
progress, and months were taken to accom-
plish the designs, but its completion is
worth the trouble, and it seems pity that
he should wear shirt to hide so beautiful
piece of work.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IN THE ART.
Having signifed my desire to be thus
ornamented, | was told that it could easily
be done, as the law against tattooing did
not apply TO foreigners. | set day and
hour, and said | would go to the artists
house instead of having him, as was usual,
come to my room at the hotel, for | was
curious to see where he lived and in what
his surroundings differed from other peo-
pies if at all. The day fixed upon was
rainy beyond all expression, and with
rush from the door | placed myself COM
paratively dry in a covered jinrikisha, and
then being wrapped over again with oiled
silk which left me Just opening enough to
breath through and TO catch glimpse of
the grass-coated and hated coolie who
carried me, was splashed along at merry
gait. The streets of the native town of
Yokohama are more than bad-and when
the coolie stopped and unwound my en-
velope / was in cross and chilled-through
state which was not improved when |
found that / would be obliged to tramp
through slush for some distance, as the
street" where the artist lived was not
wide enough to admit even my little
vehicle. The coolie rolled up my trousers
1.-THE poor fellow was not annoyed by any
of his own and held my umbrella as
picked my way along.
THE TATTooER's HOME.
A close fence of bamboo with small
wicket gate separated the house from the
Street" Bending double to enter, / found
myself at his door, where, taking off my
shoes, according to custom, was ushered
into the house through the paper door.
The coolie followed me in, to explain my
errand, he said, but l found it was more to |
show his own tattooing, which was of
very elaborate kind, and covered his body
and limbs to knees and elbows, something
like bathing suit. The room was small;
some hower-po with cobias in them stood
near glazed window; most expensive
and brilliant shrine, with carved, wooden
Buddha, was on bracket; painted silk
lantern hung from the ceiling with
cloisonne-work top and base. A little case
Of drawers, where the artist kept his instru-
ments, occupied one corner, and a couch or
mattress raised few inches from the floor
was spread beside it.
SELECTING A PATTERN.
Upon this, | seated myself in Oriental
fashion, cross-legged, and examined num-
Der of books of designs which we're given
me to chose from. ! had to take much
into consideration in this choice, for as
whatever was put on must remain all my
life, l had to think of every possible oh
lection to each of the pretty pictures, until
| finally decided upon a red and blue
snake, to have wound around my arm.
The old man raised his eyebrows little,
and said: at is, indeed, very beautiful
but if you have wife, or expect one, it
might prove disagreeable, for most women
are afraid of snakes" | told him that |
had no wife, and was not expecting any
but it was best to provide for all risks, so |
made sacrifice to that "not impossible
she" and turned over the pages till three
little swallows in fight attracted my eye,
and l chose them. But no, these would not
do, for the old man told me that they
were a sign, and put upon persons
of another class than that to which l be-
longed, and were used only by women,
anyway. A pretty girl in rich robes, all
red, blue and black, was my next choice,
but the old man suggested that my posi-
BILE wife might possibly sometime be jeal-
Gus and think it was the picture of an old
fame At last found most non-com-
initial humming bird, with bright plumage,
and as the artist brought up no objections
to this, decided to have it.
JAPANESE ADMIRATION.